Tasmania. Three Tasmanian councils push for industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis July 19, 2014 Three councils in Tasmania have been prompted by commercial prospects and farmer interest to consider pushing for both industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis. As councils in Huon Valley, Dorset and Derwent Valley weigh up the possibilities of the crops, the Tasmanian Government appeared to be open to reconsidering its opposition to medicinal cannabis. The Huon Valley Council said it has been negotiating for three months with companies that want to process cannabis into pharmaceuticals. Deputy Mayor Mike Wilson said two companies now have fully-funded proposals. He said he could not release the names of the companies for confidentially reasons but the projects could employ up to 45 people, and he urged the State Government to reconsider its rejection of a medicinal cannabis trial. He said the facilities could be set up in existing buildings left vacant by a downturn in apple growing and the closure of Huon Valley mushrooms. Former prison proposed as crop site Last night the Derwent Valley Council gave in-principle support to establishing both hemp and medicinal cannabis industries. Derwent Valley Mayor Martin Evans told the Country Hour that the Hayes Prison Farm, a former prison facility near New Norfolk, would make an ideal site for hemp or cannabis cultivation. The states got a 660-hectare site just up the road from the Derwent Valley, the Hayes, or Kilderry Farm, thats disused at the moment, he said. That facility is sitting there and its quite large, so it would probably lend itself to that industry as well. Mr Evans said the hemp and cannabis industries had the potential to create jobs. In Dorset in the states north-east, the council said it would be discussing both crops at its next meeting on Monday. Dorset Mayor Barry Jarvis said the crops in question have been viewed favourably by farmers for years. From my discussions with farmers in my area over three to five years, people cant understand why we havent been able to grow it and its not licensed, he told the Country Hour. Local councils have to get on the front foot, says mayor Mr Jarvis believed the crops could give rural areas a much-needed economic boost. Councils now are very much in the economic development sphere, and ... industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis could be certainly a valued crop and a valued industry and I believe that the potential for Tasmania to make it a real niche product is tremendous, he said. This is where local government is now. Were looking for opportunities and weve got to be on the front foot. And if we can help our farmers and the agriculture sector to grow, it benefits everybody in the community. While the Tasmanian Government has declared it would make industrial hemp a priority, to date it has firmly stood by its rejection of a medicinal cannabis trial earlier this month. But with the council groundswell and a Legislative Council inquiry into medicinal cannabis under way, it appears the Tasmanian Government may be open to reconsidering its opposition to medicinal cannabis. When responding to the prospect of the Hayes Prison Farm being used to grow hemp or cannabis, Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin did not rule out the Government changing its position. The Hayes Prison Farm sale is currently being handled by Treasury, but on the matter of medicinal cannabis we do of course have a parliamentary inquiry in progress on that and we will wait to see the outcome of that inquiry, she said. https://au.news.yahoo/a/24498613/three-tasmanian-councils-push-for-industrial-hemp-and-medicinal-cannabis/
Posted on: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 05:28:03 +0000
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